Stay Ahead, Stay Secure: Seamless Upgrades for Your Cluster

Running a modern, high-performance cluster does not need to involve constant disruption. With the Asergo Managed Platform for Kubernetes (APK), keeping your operating system and Kubernetes environment up to date is seamless, low-risk, and does not require application downtime.

Outdated software is more than technical debt—it is a security risk, a performance drag, and a compatibility liability. However, upgrading does not have to be a painful process. Our system is designed to make updates incremental, automated, and non-disruptive, so you remain current without the stress.

Why Upgrades Matter

Security: Protect Your Cluster from Exploits

Every new release of Kubernetes and the underlying operating system includes critical security patches that address vulnerabilities. Running outdated versions exposes your cluster to exploits, compliance violations, and breaches.

Fifty-nine percent of organisations report Kubernetes security incidents, many of which are tied to unpatched versions (Source: Red Hat, 2023).
Attackers actively target known vulnerabilities in older releases, turning unpatched clusters into easy targets.
Compliance standards, such as PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and GDPR, require up-to-date software. Falling behind risks audits and penalties.

Performance and Stability: Avoid the Slow Decline

Outdated versions miss out on:

Bug fixes that prevent crashes, memory leaks, and race conditions.
Performance optimisations that reduce latency and improve resource efficiency.
Compatibility updates that ensure smooth integration with modern tooling, such as Helm, Istio, and monitoring solutions.

Skipping upgrades leads to slower responses, unexpected outages, and technical debt that becomes increasingly difficult to manage over time.

Avoid the «Big Bang» Upgrade Nightmare

The longer you wait, the harder the upgrade process becomes. Jumping multiple versions at once introduces:

Breaking changes in Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), storage drivers, and networking.
Deprecated features that force last-minute rewrites.
Emergency fire drills when you must upgrade immediately because a critical Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is announced.

Our approach focuses on small, frequent updates, ensuring you never need to play catch-up.

Upgrade Planning Report

To help you plan and execute upgrades efficiently, refer to the Upgrade Planning Report below. This report outlines the current versions of your cluster components and the steps required to upgrade to the latest stable releases.

Key Upgrade Steps from the Report

Upgrade Node Operating System to 1.11.5 You are currently running multiple operating system versions in your cluster. Use the node management section to upgrade each cluster node to version 1.11.5.
Upgrade Kubernetes Network Stack to v3.31+ The upgrade is available on the Cluster Management page.
Upgrade Kubernetes to 1.33.6
- Breaking Changes:
  - Deprecation of the Stable Endpoints API: Migrate to EndpointSlices for better scalability and performance.
  - PersistentVolume Reclaim Policy: Kubernetes now enforces the PersistentVolume reclaim policy consistently, even if the PersistentVolumeClaim is deleted before its associated PersistentVolume. Update cleanup workflows accordingly.
  - Fine-Grained SupplementalGroups Control: Review your pod security contexts if you depend on these groups.
  - User Namespaces in Linux Pods: Ensure compatibility with user namespace isolation if you manually specify pod.spec.hostUsers.
For more details, see the Kubernetes v1.33 Release Notes.
Upgrade Kubernetes to 1.34.2
- Breaking Changes:
  - «Restricted» Pod Security Standard: Pods using the host field in probes or lifecycle handlers no longer meet the «Restricted» Pod security standard.
  - Ordered Namespace Deletion: The deletion order of resources within a namespace is now more structured, which may affect scripts or tools expecting the old deletion order.
  - Relaxed Domain Name System (DNS) Search Path Validation: Review pods’ .spec.dnsConfig.searches settings if you use a single dot (.) to prevent internal domain appending.
  - Environment Variable Validation: Environment variable names can now include nearly all printable American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) characters (except =).
For more details, see the Kubernetes v1.34 Release Notes.

Our Upgrade Philosophy: Zero Downtime, Zero Stress

Operating System Upgrades: Proceed at Your Pace, Without Downtime

Upgrading your operating system should never require a disruptive maintenance window. With our platform, you control the process:

Update one to two nodes at a time—simply choose a low-traffic period, select a node, and let the system manage the rest.
Experience zero impact on workloads, as your cluster remains fully operational while nodes upgrade sequentially.
Rest easy with automated rollback—if any issues arise, the system reverts changes automatically, so your environment stays protected at all times.

How Do We Achieve This?

We use an immutable operating system based on the Talos Linux (http://talos.dev) design to ensure consistency, with no configuration drift.
Self-healing nodes automatically rejoin the cluster post-upgrade.
Built-in health checks verify everything before proceeding with the upgrade.

Pro Tip: Spread upgrades over time. There is no need to update everything at once. Maintain a steady rhythm to stay current without disruption.

Kubernetes Upgrades: Plan Strategically, Test First

Unlike operating system updates, Kubernetes upgrades are a cluster-wide process. While workloads remain running, the API may experience brief timeouts during the transition. This is where strategic planning is essential:

Test first in your development cluster. Mirror your production setup and verify compatibility.
Check for deprecated APIs. Some Kubernetes features are removed over time.
Schedule upgrades during low-traffic periods to minimise any minor interruptions in API responsiveness.

We simplify the process:

One-click upgrades are available through the dashboard.
Pre-flight checks identify potential issues before they occur.
Detailed logs and rollback options are provided if needed.

Risk Mitigation

Risk	Impact	How We Prevent It
Security breaches	Exploited vulnerabilities, data leaks, compliance failures	Automatic container scanning for CVE vulnerabilities
Performance degradation	Slower responses, inefficient resource use, crashes under load	Regular updates with performance fixes
Compatibility issues	Broken integrations with Container Network Interface (CNI), storage, or monitoring tools	Version-aware testing in development
Emergency upgrades	Forced, high-risk updates when you are already behind	Incremental upgrades keep you current

Your Action Plan: Stay Current Without the Hassle

1. Operating System Upgrades: The «Friday Afternoon» Approach

Select one to two nodes per week—no rush, no pressure.
Let automation handle the process. Nodes drain, upgrade, and rejoin seamlessly.
Monitor progress and repeat. A slow and steady approach keeps your cluster secure.

2. Kubernetes Upgrades: Test, Then Deploy

Use your development cluster to mirror production and verify compatibility.
Check logs for deprecation warnings and address them before upgrading.
Schedule the upgrade. Our system handles the rest, with minimal API downtime.

3. Set It and (Mostly) Forget It

Enable automated notifications for new stable releases.
Use our dashboard to track upgrade status across your cluster.
Let us handle the heavy lifting—no manual scripts, no late-night fire drills.

The Bottom Line: Upgrades Should Be Effortless

With the Asergo Managed Platform for Kubernetes (APK), keeping your cluster current is not a chore—it is simply part of the routine. Small, frequent updates ensure:

No security panic when a new CVE is announced.
No performance surprises from outdated software.
No emergency weekends spent fixing broken upgrades.

Stay current with minimal effort. Your security team will appreciate the reduced risk.

Ready to simplify your upgrades? Contact Our Team.